Rethymno

Activities

Samaria Gorge, the longest and likely the best-known gorge in Europe, lies 4,000 feet above sea level. Your full-day (12-hour) excursion to Samaria Gorge begins with a pick-up in Rethymno and a drive to Omalos, in the heart of the White Mountains, where you can enjoy breakfast before you start the hike. The trek will take you over rocks and stones, through a forest of thousand-year-old trees and along a river and by fresh-water springs. Along the way, you’ll have spectacular views of Crete’s most beautiful mountain range and you are likely to see mountain goats roaming in the wild. You will be accompanied by a professional mountain escort who speaks English, German and Greek.  Your escort will be there to explain all the necessary information about your hike and provide you the tickets for the entrance and ferry boat. Entrance fee : 5€ (children up to the age of 15 years old are free of charge). Ferry fee : 11€ ( Sougia ferry). These fees have to be paid to the guide upon arrival. After your breakfast you enter the Samaria Gorge. Walk at your own pace as your guide will be at the end of the group to help out if you need them. At the end of the trek you’ll visit the village of Agia Roumeli, where you’ll find a number of taverns, bars and shops. Enjoy some free time to take a swim or have some lunch. A meeting point will be arranged so you can collect your ferry tickets from your guide. Late in the afternoon you’ll board a boat that will take you from Agia Roumeli to Sfakia, where the bus will be waiting to transfer you back to the starting point.

Hop in a 4x4 vehicle for a full-day safari adventure and learn about Cretan traditions while indulging in delicious food. Tour the paradisical countryside and swim in the clear water of the South Cretan Sea. Climb to an altitude of 1,200 meters and experience the quietness of the White Mountains and Cretan dances in a fascinating landscape. Keep an eye out for vultures that will take your breath away with their imposing appearance. Visit an old village with a Byzantine Church and a café stocked with Cretan products, including herbs, raki, and honey. See a castle and swim in the pristine waters of the South Cretan Sea before heading to a tavern to try traditional dishes. Visit a family-owned winery and learn how wine is produced on the island. Discover the secrets of Creten olive oil at an old factory and learn how to identify various grades of olive oil. Step into the island's past with visits to historical museums.

Depart Rethymno at approximately 07:45 and travel by bus along the new national road towards the westernmost tip of Crete. Pass the bay of Souda and the former Cretan capital of Chania before your arrival in Kissamos. Upon arrival, climb aboard a boat and cross to Balos Bay at the northernmost tip of the peninsula. Relax on the 1-hour boat trip, and get 2.5 hours at Balos Bay to enjoy the soft white sands and unique blue and green waters of the lagoon. Next, take a 20-minute boat ride to Gramvousa Island for plenty of time to enjoy an unforgettable swim in the crystal clear waters. If you are feeling energetic, take an optional 137-meter climb up to the 16th-century Venetian Fortress for an incomparable view of the surrounding surroundings. Enjoy approximately 1.5 hours at peace on Gramvousa Island, and then take a 1-hour boat ride back to Kissamos. Upon arrival, continue to Rethymno by bus at the end of the laid-back tour.

Board the luxury high-speed catamaran for the 2.5-hour trip to Santorini. Enjoy an island tour by air-conditioned bus and hear informative commentary about the history of one of Greece's most romantic islands. Travel to the village of Oia at the northernmost tip of the island. The village offers magnificent views of the blue and white houses scattered on the hillside. Continue to Fira, where you'll have free time to explore the island's capital. Browse the shops or enjoy a drink at a bar with stunning views of the volcano. Swim from a black sand beach at Perissa or Perivolos. Depart for Crete at 05:45 PM, where the 13-hour trip ends in the port of Rethymno.

Choose from a morning or afternoon Quad Bike safari, and benefit from a hotel pick-up from Rethymno, Bali or Georgiopoulis. Journey to the base in Rethymno town and get kitted out with all the necessary equipment from your guide. Listen to a detailed briefing before you set off for some serious off-road fun! Journey up into the mountains of Maroulas, and head for the summit for a 10-minute break to take in the panoramic views. Then, continue on your bike for another 20 minutes to reach a spot where you can relax over coffee at a traditional kafeneion (Greek coffee house). Soak up the peace and quiet of Café Gidospito overlooking beautiful Lake Potami. Then, make your way to the picturesque village of Prassies for a quick snack to recover from your Quad Bike experience. Return to Rethymno and get dropped off at your hotel to relax and freshen up after you dusty adventure! Each quad is for 2 people, if you like single quads, please make different bookings for each person.

Samariá Gorge is the longest gorge in Europe. An area of stunning natural beauty, it is rich with many flowers and herbs and the crystal-clear spring waters that flow from the mountains. Following an early morning pick-up (between 05:30 and 06:30) from the nearest point to your accommodation in Rethymno or Chania, travel through the mountains passing the plateau of Omalos. You will arrive at some wooden stairs at the start of Samariá Gorge. You can opt to start the walk straight away or get some breakfast at the taverna before you begin. Hike for approximately 6-7 hours and experience the magnificent landscape on a 16-kilometer walk. Once you have finished the hike, there will be ample time for a swim and lunch at a taverna in Agia Roumeli. Indicative Timetable: 5:20 AM ‐ 6:10 AM: Pickup 7:30 AM: First stop at Omalos Plateau 8:00 AM: Begin the Xyloskalo hike 2:00 PM: End the hike at Agia Roumeli Village Please note that this timetable depends on how fast you walk and how much free time you take to eat.

Boart the pirate-themed boat "Captain Hook" at marina port of Rethymnon. Set sail on a five-hour cruise and take some time for swimming, snorkeling, or simply admiring the beautiful views. Sail west and enjoy the views of the Venetian port of Rethymnon. Traveling along the coastline of Crete, pass Gerani Bay before the boat anchors at the Bay of Kevalas. Enjoy some time swimming or snorkeling from the boat for approximately one hour. Next, enjoy a lunch of tuna salad with fresh local vegetables, followed by more time for swimming and sunbathing. On the return leg of the journey, admire the views of the caves of Kefalas before returning to the harbor of Rethymnon.

Ride in a comfortable coach through small traditional villages and typical Mediterranean scenery. See the rugged landscape around the Topolia Gorgeand and have a stop for coffee and refreshments.  Arrive at Elafonissi beach. Here, you have four hours free time to marvel at the different colors between the soft pink and white sand to the turquoise waters. As well as exploring the wonders of the beach, discover the small island. This lies just off the shore and you can reach it by strolling through the water. Both the beach and the island are protected wildlife areas of rare beauty and included in the Natura 2000 Protection Programme. 

Start your day trip from Crete at the port of Rethymno or Agios Nikolaos. Select the option to be picked up from your hotel in an air-conditioned vehicle, and marvel at the blue and white buildings typical of the island on your way to the harbor. Climb aboard the luxury, high-speed Champion Jet 2 catamaran and journey to Santorini in just 2.5 hours. Upon arrival at the port of Athinios, take a tour of the island by air-conditioned bus. Listen to an informative commentary from your guide (available in English, German, French, Italian, Polish and Russian) about the history of one of the most romantic islands in Greece. Travel through the beautiful countryside en route to the village of Oia at the northernmost tip of the island. Built on the lip of a volcanic caldera, the village offers magnificent views of the blue and white houses studded along the hillside.   Continue to Fira and get plenty of free time to explore the island's capital. Stroll down the picturesque alleys and take in the views of the architecture typical to the Aegean. Browse the shops or enjoy a drink at a bar with stunning views of the volcano and its caldera cliffs. Then, get the option to stay in the capital or go for a 2-hour swim off the black sand beach of Perissa or Perivolos. Alternatively, travel by boat to the caldera (subject to availability) for views of the volcano up close. Depart for Crete at 17:45 and journey back to the Port of Rethymno, where the tour services end. Select the transfer option to be dropped off back at your hotel.

Benefit from hotel pick-up at approximately 08:00 and journey to Acqua Plus Water Park in Heraklion for an estimated arrival time of around 10:30. Then, enjoy the park at leisure until 17:00. Situated just 5 kilometers from Hersonissos and 30 kilometers from Heraklion, Acqua Plus Water Park entertains thousands of visitors every year with its thrill rides and relaxation areas. Divided into 2 sections - one for adults and the other for kids - the park includes a large number of extreme slides and water features. Zig-zag your way through 3 different pools on the Crazy River, or ride through the Black Holes and experience beams of light that attack your senses before you emerge for the final splash! Stroll around the gorgeous garden, filled with native plants and exotic flowers to create a Garden of Eden. Perched on a hill, the park is easy to work your way around with little effort. Save your energy for rides such as the Kamikaze waterslide or Tsunami. Take the little ones to the dedicated kids area and drift around on the Lazy River or just watch them play in the active playground. Avoid waiting in lines with a unique system that ensures you can enjoy the slides and games as much as possible, and benefit from the park's reputation for cleanliness, hospitality and safety. Qualified lifeguards and a stand-by doctor are ready to assist and protect you at any minute of the day.